Employee Stock Options. Done Right.

Design for belief, not bondage.

Handcuff-style plans train people to game the system. Stock options should build ownership—not just compliance. We shape ESOP strategy from your values, vision, and culture.

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The Question Behind the Question

What are your employees really asking themselves?

You think they are asking about strike prices and funding rounds, but they are actually asking: Does the founder value my contribution? Am I part of the vision?

When someone good leaves, it's rarely just because of the money—it's because the emotional connection broke. Stock options are often used to answer the ‘How’ and ‘What’ of retention, but they fail to address the ‘Why’.

Extrinsic motivation breeds compliance. We are building an ownership mindset that breeds commitment and inspires an employee every single day.

Read the Full PerspectiveExplore the VVC Model
The VVC Standard

Open-Sourcing Our Methodology.

After 20+ years and hundreds of ESOP designs, we've translated our collective wisdom into the VVC Standard. A 60-page definitive guide detailing the IBO Method, the MYSMYV Principle (More You Stay More You Vest), and the “Gracias Options” and “Growth Options”, and everything else you need to know about stock options design.

Read & Download the Standard
What We Do

How we help you.

Design & Structure

Instrument selection, grant sizing, pricing, vesting schedules, benchmarking, and Board presentations. We start with your values, not a template.

Document & Legalise

ESOP scheme documents, board and shareholder resolutions, grant letters, and exercise notices. Every word reviewed, every comma intentional.

Communicate & Inspire

A grant letter is a dead piece of paper until you infuse life into it. We help you shift the conversation from valuation to values.

The 6D Framework

Discover, Design, Document, Price, Conditions, Frequency — six dimensions to craft a stock options strategy that is authentically yours.

VVC Ownership Model

Values, Vision, Culture — the intrinsic engine that makes ESOPs work. Without VVC, stock options are just financial bribes.

Compliance & Governance

IndAS 102, IFRS 2, US GAAP, SEBI, FEMA, Companies Act. We take on the heavy lifting so your scheme operates flawlessly.

How We Work

A 12-week engagement. Four phases.

Every engagement follows a disciplined, repeatable process — from contemplation to execution. We don't rush this. Your stock options strategy deserves the time it takes to get it right.

Phase 01

Foundation

Weeks 1–2

Identify personal values, define your Non-Financial Vision (NFV), and codify the company culture. This is where the emotional contract begins.

Phase 02

Design

Weeks 3–5

Map team criticality, calculate grants using the IBO method, and finalize pricing and vesting terms. Every number must have a reason.

Phase 03

Legal

Weeks 6–9

Draft explanatory statements, hold shareholder assemblies to adopt the plan, and finalize corporate documentation. Every comma is intentional.

Phase 04

Rollout

Weeks 10–12

Conduct one-on-one sessions (The 'Founder Talk') and issue the final grant letters. This is where the ownership mindset comes alive.

See the Full 6D FrameworkStart Your Engagement
The Next Step

Let's get this right.

Your organisation has a unique past, present, and future. Your history with your employees is unique. You need a stock options strategy that reflects what you're trying to build and who you're trying to build it with.

tarun@justesops.com

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Just Esops

What does Just Esops help companies do?

Just Esops helps founders design and execute an ESOP strategy anchored in their values, vision, and culture — not a copy-pasted template. Services span scheme design and structuring, legal documentation, employee communication, valuations, and compliance across SEBI, FEMA, Companies Act, IndAS 102, and IFRS 2.

What is the 6D stock options framework?

The 6D framework covers six dimensions of stock options policy: Why (past vs future intent), Who (coverage and culture), How Many (grant sizing using the IBO method), What Price (strike price as a statement of fairness), What Conditions (vesting schedules and milestones), and How Often (grant cadence). It treats ESOP design as a people and strategy exercise, not only a legal one.

What is the VVC Ownership Model?

VVC stands for Values, Vision, and Culture — the intrinsic motivation that makes equity meaningful. Without VVC, stock options risk becoming financial bribes; with VVC, they become part of an emotional contract and a shared ownership story. VVC is the engine that makes ESOPs actually work.

What is the difference between Gracias Options and Growth Options?

Gracias Options recognise past contribution with more favourable terms. Growth Options incentivise future performance. Many companies need both. The 6D framework recommends separating them clearly in documents and communication so the intent is never muddled.

How long is a typical Just Esops engagement?

A typical engagement runs 12 weeks across four phases: Foundation (weeks 1–2), Design (weeks 3–5), Legal (weeks 6–9), and Rollout (weeks 10–12). Rollout includes the Founder Talk — one-on-one sessions with grant recipients — and issuance of final grant letters.

Who is Just Esops for?

Founders and leadership teams who want an ownership plan that inspires belief — not just compliance. Just Esops has worked with 200+ companies across 31 industries over 20+ years, covering early-stage organisations to large listed enterprises.

What is Atom?

Atom is Just Esops' 6D stock options design platform. It takes you from contemplation to execution through sandbox scenario modelling, dilution and accounting visibility, separation of Gracias vs Growth grants, and a legal documentation engine that exports board resolutions, scheme documents, and grant letters.

What is the VVC Standard?

The VVC Standard is a free 60-page open-source guide documenting the full methodology — including the IBO method, the MYSMYV principle, and the Gracias vs Growth distinction. It is available to download as a PDF from the VVC Standard page.

How do I start a conversation with Just Esops?

Use the Contact page or email tarun@justesops.com or karan@justesops.com. Just Esops responds within 48 hours. Expect a values-first conversation about meaning and intent before any discussion of pool sizing or legal clauses.